iend's room, knowing how unscrupulous many people, when thus
engaged, were, and that if they got hold of him he would have no little
difficulty in escaping from their clutches.

His friend, Ned Archer, thought the same. "Here, Billy," he exclaimed,
"jump out of the window! I will shut it after you, and you will be free
of these fellows."

There was not a moment to be lost. True Blue threw open the casement,
and dropped to the ground. It was a good height; but to an active lad
like him the fall was nothing, and he would have made no noise had not a
tin pan been set up against the wall. He kicked it over, and, as he was
running off, he found himself collared by three stout fellows, drawn to
the spot by the clatter it made.

"You'll have to serve His Majesty, my lad--that's all; so be quiet,"
said one of the men, for True Blue very naturally could not help trying
to escape.

"I have served His Majesty long and faithfully, and hope before long to
be serving him again afloat," answered True Blue. "But just hands off,
mates. You've got hold of a wrong bird. I belong to a sloop of war,
the _Gannet_, and am away from her on leave."

"A likely story, my lad," said the officer commanding the pressgang, who
just then came up. "You are fair-spoken enough; but men with
protections don't jump out of windows and try to make off at the sight
of a pressgang. Whether you've served His Majesty or not, you'll come
along with us and serve him now--that's all I've to say on the subject."

The officer would not listen to a word True Blue had to plead, but with
eight or nine other men, captured at the same time, he was forthwith
marched down in the direction of the Hamble river.

It was a long tramp, and True Blue often looked round for an opportunity
of escaping; but his captors were vigilant, and there seemed but little
chance of his getting away. Never had he felt so anxious, and, as he
expressed his feelings, downhearted, not for himself,--he believed that
all would come right at last, as far as he was concerned,--but for those
he left behind him. He thought how anxious and grieved Mary would be
when he did not return; and though he was aware that ultimately she
would ascertain that he had been carried off by a pressgang, he knew
that that would not mend matters much.

A boat was waiting for them in the Hamble creek; and the party pulled
on, till at daybreak they found themselves at the mouth of the
Southampton Water,